The High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland [official website] on Friday dismissed [judgment] a multi-issue legal challenge to the UK’s exit from the EU, known as Brexit. There were multiple issues under consideration by the court [judgment summary] all centering around whether the referendum by vote to leave the EU is binding on Northern Ireland and public policy arguments not to give results of referendum too much weight.

In August 2016, two applications for judicial review of the government’s intention to use the Royal Prerogative to invoke Article 50 were lodged in the High Court in Belfast. The first application was made by Raymond McCord and the second application was made by multiple applicants. A majority of British citizens voted in a referendum in June choosing to leave the EU [JURIST report]. The vote, an extension of British discontent with the EU, defied the suggestions of economists and British leaders, leading to the resignation of Prime minister David Cameron. The implications of this move extend beyond just immigration, though, as many believe this separation will negatively effect the British economy, which will likely be cut off from the EU’s single market, unless an agreement between the two can be reached. Earlier this month, UK government lawyers argued in court that British Prime Minister Theresa May has the right to remove the UK from the EU without parliamentary approval [JURIST report].